Take a well-deserved reprieve from the chaos of your day and play, TQC Trivia! Pets. Answers are provided below along with interesting and fun supplemental information.

1) Q: What percentage of American households own a pet?

A) 15%
B) 55%
C) 68%
D) 79%

2) Q: How much money do American’s spend on their pets annually?

A) $500 million
B) $50 billion
C) $70 billion
D) $99 billion

3) Q: What is the most popular dog breed in America?

A) Labrador
B) Poodle
C) Goldendoodle
D) German Sheperd

4) Q: What is the most common pet in America?

A) Dog
B) Cat
C) Fish
D) Reptile

5) Q: What percentage of dogs are overweight in America?

A) 12%
B) 28%
C) 56%
D) 70%

6) Q: What percentage of pets are covered by health insurance in America?

A) 2%
B) 10%
C) 25%
D) 50%

7) Q: How many accredited veterinary schools are there in America?

A) 10
B) 30
C) 100
D) 300

8) Q: What is the largest (by weight) pure bred domesticated dog in the world?

A) Great Dane
B) English Mastiff
C) American Bulldog
D) Chihuahua

9) Q: What is the largest (by weight) pure bred domesticated cat in the world?

A) Maine Coon
B) Norwegian Forest Cat
C) Chausie
D) Savannah Cat

10) Q: Which of the following dog breeds are hypoallergenic?

A) Poodle
B) Beagle
C) Labradoodle
D) None of the above

Take a well-deserved reprieve from the chaos that has engulfed us and play TQC Trivia! Sea Creatures. Answers are provided below, along with interesting and fun supplemental information.

1) Q: What is the world’s most venomous fish?

A) Puffer
B) Candiru
C) Stonefish
D) Piranha

2) Q: What is the world’s smallest fish?

A) Danio
B) Corfu Dwarf Goby
C) Chili Rasbora
D) Photocorynus Spiniceps (Anglerfish)

3) Q: What is the world’s most commercially harvested fish?

A) Goldfish
B) Alaska Pollock
C) Anchoveta
D) Skipjack Tuna

4) Q: What is the most consumed seafood in America?

A) Salmon
B) Tuna
C) Catfish
D) Shrimp

5) Q: How many commercial fishermen ply their trade in the United States?

A) 4,000
B) 14,000
C) 40,000
D) 400,000

6) Q: What is the world’s deepest dwelling fish?

A) Mariana Snailfish
B) Mullet
C) Giant Squid
D) Sculpin

7) Q: What fish has the shortest lifespan?

A) Common Carp
B) Sign Eviota
C) Turquoise killifish
D) Siamese fighting fish

8) Q: What fish is harvested primarily to produce animal feed?

A) Grouper
B) Mackerel
C) Trout
D) Menhaden

9) Q: What is the most farmed fish in America?

A) Salmon
B) Carp
C) Catfish
D) Tilapia

10) Q: What is the world’s fastest fish?

A) Black Marlin
B) Sailfish
C) Bonefish
D) Swordfish

ANSWERS

1) (C) Stonefish. Note: The stonefish is the world’s most venomous fish. Typically found in warm water along coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific oceans, stonefish move slowly and camouflage themselves within their surroundings. Encounters with unlucky swimmers occur when human’s inadvertently step on them, thus becoming victims. If left untreated, the venom from a stonefish can result in death. However, if appropriately prepared, stonefish are edible and considered a delicacy in parts of Asia. Piranhas – made famous by the 1978 movie “Piranha,” - are the most infamous of the world’s poisonous fish but are not the deadliest. In fact, most Piranha’s prefer plants over people; attacks on humans are rare. Pufferfish are referred to as “fugu” in Japan. They are poisonous, but like the stonefish if cooked properly by a trained chef, they are edible.

Approximately 80% of Americans live in “urbanized' and “cluster areas" defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as “areas with 50,000 people or more” and “areas with between 2,500 and 50,000 people,” respectively.

Despite where most Americans reside, rural land encompasses ~95% of the surface area of the United States. Definitions of “rural” differ depending on the source and context. Generally, population density is an agreed-upon metric to measure how urban or rural an area is. A simple calculation – the total square miles of a space divided by the number of inhabitants – is used to derive population density.

Below, we will introduce ten of the most rural counties in America. Before we do, here are some interesting factoids about rural America on the state level:

• The states with the greatest percentage of rural residents are Maine (61%), Vermont (61%), West Virginia (51%), and Mississippi (51%). Interestingly, none of these states are home to any of America's 50 most rural counties.

• Alaska (AK) is tied for the state with the most (10) rural counties. This is not surprising; AK is the largest state in the union and the second least populated. That combination translates into a lot of sparsely inhabited areas.

• Wyoming is the state with the least number of people. Curiously, the Equality State, as WY is known because it was the 1st state in the Union to afford women the right to vote and elect a woman governor (Nellie Ross in 1925), does not harbor any of the 50 most rural counties in America.

• Nevada is one of the five most urbanized states due to the concentration of residents living in or around Las Vegas & Reno. The Silver State is also home to four of the 50 most rural counties in the nation.

• Interestingly, Texas has the second most rural counties and is the second most populated state in the Union.

At TQC, every so often we switch gears, take a reprieve from the hot button topics that are typically the subjects of our posts, and replace them with something lighthearted and fun. With that in mind, for this week we have decided to offer our readers a chance to take a break and play TQC Trivia! Fruits & Veggies. Answers are provided below, along with interesting and fun supplemental information.

Fruits & Veggies

1) Q: What is the most popular fruit (measured by production) in the world?

A) Banana
B) Tomato
C) Avocado
D) Onion

2) Q: What is the most caloric vegetable in the world?

A) Potato
B) Pea
C) Garlic
D) Turnip

3) Q: Which U.S. state produces the most oranges?

A) Florida
B) Washington
C) Georgia
D) California

4) Q: Which U.S. state produces the most peaches?

A) South Carolina
B) New York
C) Georgia
D) California

5) Q: Which U.S. state produces the most blueberries?

A) Washington
B) Oregon
C) California
D) New Jersey

6) Q: What is the most expensive vegetable in America?

A) Pinto Beans
B) Asparagus
C) Radish
D) Avocado

7) Q: Are berries fruit?

A) Yes
B) No
C) Some
D) Most

8) Q: Which fruit contains the most protein?

A) Guava
B) Avocado
C) Peach
D) Apple

9) Q: Which is the least caloric vegetable?

A) Spinach
B) Alfalfa Sprouts
C) Kale
D) Watercress

10) Q: Which fruit contains the most sugar?

A) Strawberry
B) Lime
C) Fig
D) Lychee

ANSWERS
1) (B) Tomato. Contrary to popular belief, the tomato, scientifically known as Solanum lycopersicum, is a fruit. Worldwide, ~180 million metric tons of tomatoes are harvested each year, earning it the distinction of world’s most popular fruit. The versatile tomato is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K (helps with blood clotting), and an antioxidant called lycopene, which is understood to have anti-inflammatory and other health benefits. Bananas rank number two. Avocados do not crack the top 15. Onions are not fruits.

Eggs are an American staple. They are cheap, nutritious, and ubiquitous. Any retailer that sells foodstuffs, from gargantuan supercenters to a corner bodega, a budget store to high end grocer, is sure to carry a wide variety of eggs. And for good reason. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans consume ~300 eggs per person each calendar year, up from ~250 in 1991. (The highest per capita rate of egg consumption in the US was ~400, in 1945.)

Americans’ penchant for eggs and their increased interest in how food is sourced, have resulted in an egg marketing plethora. Manufacturers slap a dizzying array of labels on their egg cartons. To that end, have you ever been mystified, even overwhelmed by labels declaring a container of eggs you’re eyeing as “organic” or “omega-3 enriched” or “free-range, free-roaming or pasture-raised?” We certainly have. What about “cage-free or certified humane.” What does all this jargon mean? Is it just world salad, or truly meaningful when determining what kind of egg to use in a salad?

We decided to find out. But before we detail our findings, let us first introduce three other oddities of the egg industry that directly affects egg aficionados everywhere: Size, Ratings, and Color.

Size

The USDA ascribes six different weight classes per dozen shelled eggs. From smallest to largest they are peewee, small, medium, large, extra-large, and jumbo.

Peewee: 15 oz. These eggs come from younger hens who lay eggs intermittently. They are almost impossible to find in grocery stores.

Small: 18 oz. Small eggs are also known as “pullet eggs.” Like Peewees, they are not readily available in most stores.

Medium: 21 oz. The smallest eggs consumers can find at most supermarkets.

Large: 24 oz. The most common egg. Most cooking recipes assume the chef will be using large eggs.

Extra-large: 27 oz. Sometimes baking recipes specifically call for extra-large eggs.

Jumbo eggs: 30 oz. The largest eggs available for public consumption. They are not available in all markets but are easier to find than peewees and small eggs.

Major League Baseball (MLB) is often referred to as America’s National Pastime. It is also a treasure for statisticians and data geeks alike. Indeed, baseball statistics carefully logged from over 218,000 games spanning 150 years, are available free of charge to anybody. In fact, many baseball teams hire “quants” to parse through and reconcile the raw data to obtain an edge against the competition. Probability and Statistics professors incorporate the data into their course offerings. Sports writers and everyday fans use it to compare players over multiple generations and help decide who reaches the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Some of our readers do not like baseball; we do not care for it much ourselves. However, a cool thing about baseball is one need not be a fan to marvel at the sheer magnitude of meticulously recorded statistics and how they are applied across various disciplines for learning and fun.

To make this trivia more relevant for non-fans, we have refrained from mentioning too many specific players. Instead, we focused on interesting facts and data points. Answers are provided below, along with fascinating supplemental information.

1) In baseball, what does “hit for a cycle” mean?

A) Smashing 4 home runs in one game.
B) Hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game.
C) Walking 4 times in the same game.
D) Hitting a home run in 4 consecutive games.

2) What is a “no-hitter,” and can a pitcher toss a no-hitter and lose the game?

A) When a pitcher does not allow any batter on the opposing team to reach a base, no.
B) When a pitcher does not allow any batter on the opposing team to get a hit, yes.
C) When a pitcher does not allow any batter on the opposing team to reach base, yes.
D) When a pitcher does not allow any batter on the opposing team to get a hit, no.

3) Has a major league pitcher ever struck out all 27 batters in a nine-inning regulation game? If not, what are the most batters a pitcher has struck out in one game?

A) No, 21
B) Yes
C) No, 20
D) No, 15

4) How old was the youngest person to ever play in a MLB game?

A) 18
B) 17
C) 21
D) 15

5) What are the most consecutive MLB games played by a National League player?

A) 2,632
B) 2,130
C) 1,207
D) 807

6) What is the rarest MLB feat?

Eleven days after our last post on July 10th, your correspondent became a 1st-time father. It has been a life (and diaper) changing experience. Fatherhood interrupted TQC’s bi-weekly schedule. Thank you for your patience.

Leading up to the birth of my son, I was told I would be sleeping less. I do. Laughing more. I do. Be thinking of him constantly. I am. And enjoying every moment of fatherhood. I am. Indeed, I miss that lil guy even when just a few feet and a sheetrock wall separate us.

Being a new parent piqued my interest in babies. Before we continue this post, please enjoy ten interesting facts about the smallest humans on earth. They have unique personality traits, but all share one thing in common: they love unconditionally.

Interesting Facts About Babies

• Adults have 206 bones, but babies are born with ~300 bones! The reason: a greater number of smaller bones make the baby more limber, allowing for an easier passage through the birth canal. As a baby matures, bones fuse over soft spots (ever feel one on a baby’s head, it is called a fontanelle) and form larger, more developed bones.

• Although babies are born with ~50% more bones than they will ultimately end up with, they enter this world without patellas, commonly referred as a kneecaps. The reason: The patella is sharp and has a pronounced shape. The absence of the patella helps keep the legs flexible. Again, this aids in the birthing process. Babies’ kneecaps form at ~6 months of age.

• Ever wonder how babies can drink from a bottle for long stretches without stopping to breathe? A commonly accepted myth – even by some pediatricians - is that babies can swallow and breathe simultaneously! This is not true. Click here to learn more.

• According to pampers.com, a newborn’s eyes “may appear gray or blue due to a lack of pigment. Once exposed to light, the eye color will most likely start to change to blue, green, hazel, or brown over a period of six months to one year.”

At TQC, every so often we switch gears, take a reprieve from the hot button topics that are typically the subjects of our posts, and replace them with something fun. With that in mind, for this week we have decided to offer our readers a chance to take a break and play TQC Trivia! The Periodic Table. Answers are provided below, along with interesting and fun supplemental information.

1) How many elements are on the periodic table?

A) 18
B) 108
C) 118
D) 1018

2) What was the first element discovered on the modern periodic table?

A) Oganesson (Og)
B) Hydrogen (H)
C) Cesium (Cs)
D) Molybdenum (Mo)

3) What is the most abundant element on planet Earth?

A) Oxygen (O)
B) Helium (He)
C) Potassium (K)
D) Hydrogen (H)

4) What is the rarest stable metal on the periodic table?

A) Uranium (U)
B) Astatine (At)
C) Francium (Fr)
D) Tantalum (Ta)

5) Which element is considered a “rare earth” metal?

A) Neodymium (Nd)
B) Gold (Au)
C) Silver (Ag)
D) Copper (Cu)

6) What is the most radioactive element?

A) Uranium (U)
B) Technetium (Tc)
C) Helium (He)
D) Polonium (Po)

7) What is the most unstable element?

A) Francium (Fr)
B) Neon (Ne)
C) Argon (Ar)
D) Radon (Rn)

8) What is the most conductive element?

A) Silver (Ag)
B) Copper (Cu)
C) Gold (Au)
D) Lead (Pb)

9) What element has the highest boiling point?

A) Helium (He)
B) Tungsten (W)
C) Scandium (Sc)
D) Palladium (Pd)

10) What is the heaviest element?

A) Gold (Au)
B) Praseodymium (Pr)
C) Germanium (Ge)
D) Oganesson (Og)

ANSWERS

1) (C) 118. Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev (1834-1907) is credited with organizing elements into a periodic table. Back then 63 elements existed. Today the periodic table consists of 118 elements including four “super heavy” elements discovered after 2000. The modern periodic table is organized by atomic number – or the number of protons each contains - and grouped in vertical columns by elements with similar properties. A rudimentary breakdown is between metals and nonmetals (gasses). Metals are further grouped into alkali, alkali earth, transition, and so forth. Gasses are known as inert (18 of them) or other non-metallic, such as oxygen and nitrogen. Three elements: Bromine, Cesium, and Mercury, are liquid at room temperature.

Shoplifting & Theft

American retailers lose ~$50 billion dollars per year courtesy of theft. Shoplifting accounts for most (36.5%) of those losses. Employee theft, administrative errors and vendor fraud are responsible for most of the balance. According to Shopify, the most-shoplifted items include:

• Electronics
• Cigarettes
• Pregnancy Tests
• Handbags
• Weight loss pills
• Pain relievers
• Infant formula
• Alcohol
• Razors

"Thou shalt not steal" is one of the Ten Commandments of the Jewish Torah (known to Christians as the first five books of the Old Testament), which are widely understood as moral imperatives by legal scholars, Jewish scholars, Catholic scholars, and Post-Reformation scholars. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The seventh commandment forbids unjustly taking or keeping the goods of one's neighbor and wronging him in any way with respect to his goods. It commands justice and charity in the care of earthly goods and the fruits of men's labor. For the sake of the common good, it requires respect for the universal destination of goods and respect for the right to private property.”

• The Bible is world's most shoplifted book. Most are swiped from hotel rooms.

Dangerous Animals

The Cone Snail, sometimes referred to as the “cigarette snail,” is a mollusk that typically measures ~5 inches in length. It is considered the 9th most dangerous animal in the world by Conde Nast Traveler (CNT). If you are ever on holiday in the Caribbean, you might be unlucky enough to meet one, especially near the vicinity of a coral reef. Cone Snails are gorgeous animals defined by their peculiar shape and beautiful shell. Look, but do not touch; they are one of the most toxic creatures on earth. Fortunately, only a few people have ever had the misfortune of being stung by one (there is no antivenom). If you happen to get stung by a Cone Snail, do not bother going to the ER, you will be dead on arrival. Instead, smoke a cigarette. The Cone Snail’s highly toxic and concentrated venom causes paralysis then death in the time it takes the average smoker to finish a cigarette, hence the snails nickname.

According to thelisti, English Bulldogs are the 4th most popular dog breed in the world, and with good reason. Bulldogs are friendly, fun, and patient, traits that make wonderful family pets. They tend to get along swimmingly with other animals and love children. Given their sturdy stature, Bullies are not bothered when the youngest member(s) of the family pull, poke or prod them. While not known to be very bright – they have consistently ranked as one the least intelligent breeds – and can be stubborn at times, they are also loyal, loving, funny and eager to please. This wasn’t always the case.

Bull-baiting.

In Europe, harking back to the 1500’s, Bulldogs were bred to be extremely athletic, aggressive and ferocious animals. They were equipped with overly muscular bodies, massive heads and powerful jaws, and were trained to fight to the death. They were used primarily as a participants in the brutal “sport” of bull-baiting. In this sport, Bulldogs (and other animals) were coaxed into clamping down on the snout of an enraged, tethered bull; wagers were then placed, and whichever Bulldog immobilized the bull by pinning it to the ground 1st, would be declared the victor.

Those adorable wrinkles that help distinguish Bulldogs from various other breeds were once intended for the blood of a bull to meander through so as not to interfere with the Bulldog’s iron-clad grip. The Bulldog’s pushed in face allowed it to continue breathing – ironic because present day Bulldogs have a litany of respiratory problems - while its powerful jaw clamped down on a bull’s nose. During bull-baiting matches, dogs were often maimed or even killed and bulls were often badly injured too.

In the United Kingdom, bull-baiting reached the peak of its popularity in the early 19th century. However, the sport’s status and its association with gambling coupled with the growing horror of animal rights activists, served as a catalyst for politicians to get involved. In 1835, lawmakers made bull-baiting, along with bear-baiting and cockfighting, illegal via the Cruelty to Animals Act. By the stroke of a pen, the English Bulldog’s primary use in the U.K. and other parts of Europe was rendered null and void.

Between the coronavirus, divisive politics, climate change, terrorism, turbulent stock markets and a myriad other serious concerns, it is understandable that many Americans are feeling apprehensive and, perhaps, even out of control. At The Quintessential Centrist, we have opined on the aforementioned subjects and will continue to fulfill our mandate to offer readers ideas that blend news, analysis and viewpoints from the left, right and center of the political continuum. That said, we wanted this issue of TQC to give our readers a reprieve from the recent anxiety inducing newsflow. Go on, take a few minutes to relax, be amused, and learn a thing or two. Below you will find some fun facts about words that make up the English language.

Longest Words:

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (34 letters)
Pronunciation: su·per·ca·li·fra·gil·is·tic·ex·pi·a·li·do·cious
Definition: extraordinarily good; wonderful.

By far the most famous, this 34-character word has been ingrained in American culture since the world famous 1964 Disney musical film, Mary Poppins: "...Even though the sound of it, is something quite atrocious, if you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"

At TQC, every so often we switch gears, take a reprieve from the hot button topics that are the subjects of our weekly posts, and replace them with something lighthearted and fun. With that in mind, for this week we have decided to offer our readers a chance to take a break and play a moderated iteration of the popular game show, Wheel Of Fortune. First, try and solve each of the five puzzles. Then, at the bottom of the post, find the correct answers along with corresponding fun facts about each word or phrase. Enjoy!

SUBJECTS:

1) Vol-a-ic E-u--ion-

2) B-ck T- T-e F-t--e

3) A-p--as

4) --n-ing M-c-ine-

5) W---l -f F-----e

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ANSWERS:

Volcanic Eruptions

Volcanic Eruptions are measured on a scale from 1 to 8 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). The largest eruption ever recorded took place at Mount Tambora, Indonesia in 1815. The explosion registered a 7 on the VEI. The boom was so deafening that it was heard in Sumatra, Indonesia, an island ~1200 miles away. Over 70,000 people perished in the eruption and its aftermath, from lava flow and ash. The volcano is still active.

Take a well-deserved reprieve from the chaos that has engulfed us and play, TQC Trivia! World Capitals. Answers are provided below along with interesting and fun supplemental information.

1) Brazil:

A) Rio de Janeiro
B) Sao Paulo
C) Brasilia
D) Manaus

2) Norway:

A) Oslo
B) Bergen
C) Trondheim
D) Kristiansand

3) India:

A) Mumbai
B) Kolkata
C) Pune
D) New Delhi

4) New Zealand:

A) Auckland
B) Christchurch
C) Wellington
D) Dunedin

5) Canada:

A) Toronto
B) Ottawa
C) Montreal
D) Vancouver

6) Vietnam:

A) Hanoi
B) Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
C) Da Nang
D) Dong Ha

7) Morocco:

A) Rabat
B) Casablanca
C) Marrakesh
D) Tangier

8) Kazakhstan:

A) Astana
B) Almaty
C) Nur-Sultan
D) Karagandy

9) Australia:

A) Sydney
B) Canberra
C) Melbourne
D) Perth

10) Namibia:

A) Windhoek
B) Walvis Bay
C) Uis
D) Ondangwa

ANSWERS:

1) (C) Brasilia. Note: Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil until 1960. Sao Paulo is Brazil’s most populous city (~12,200,000). Brasilia, the current capital, is the nation’s 3rd most populated (~3,000,000) metropolis. The city was constructed in the 1950s to spur migration to the sparsely populated interior of the country.

2) (B) Oslo. Note: Oslo has served as Norway’s capital since 1814. Located in the south east of the country close to Switzerland, it is home to ~11% of Norway’s population. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo. Bergen is the largest city on Norway’s east coast. It was once a central trading hub in Europe. Its fish market has been in operation since 1276! Trondeim is a tech savvy city with a vivacious startup scene.

"Conservatives sometimes resist change when change makes good sense; liberals sometimes yearn for change when change makes little sense."

"Even a broken clock is right twice a day, but a working clock can be wrong 23 times a day."

"When somebody is emotionally incapable of doing what’s rationally obvious, it’s impossible to effect change."

"A man who juggles too many balls in the air is bound to end up with his head down."

"If you try and dance in-between raindrops, most likely you will end up getting soaked."